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HISTORY OF AFRICA I21:510:263Class Time/Location: T/R 2:30-3:50 pm, Conklin 342Fall 2016Dr. Habtamu TegegneOffice: Conklin 329Office Hours by appointmentEmail: [email protected] DescriptionThis course explores key developments in African history from human origin to 1850. Thisperiod has seen vast changes in African societies, the rise of empires and kingdoms, and theincorporation of Africa into the modern world system. Through lectures, readings, anddiscussions we will look at the political, social, and cultural history of Africa, exploring somemajor historical processes and events that shaped and continue to reshape the continent and lendthemselves to discussions and inquiry. The course is divided into four broad parts.I. Origins and Foundations of African Civilization. This section deals with the generalintroduction of the land, geography and peoples of Africa, the history of man and his evolution,the emergence of food-producing communities. (2 Lectures)II. Ancient and Classical African Civilizations. This section discusses some of Africa’s veryold and great civilizations and societies which flourished in the Nile valley. First we willconsider the Egyptian civilization then review the vigorous debate regarding the identity ofPharaonic Egyptians and the relation between ancient Egypt and African and Europeancivilizations and cultures. Then we will look at Kush and its Meroitic and Christian Nubiansuccessors and the Empire of Aksum. (2 lectures)III. Medieval African Civilizations. This section covers medieval African societies andkingdoms including the succession of empires which flourished in the middle sections of the NigerRiver in West Africa, the forests states in west Africa and the states of southern and central Africa.Special emphasis will be given to the Empire of Mali and to oral tradition of its founder and greatest kingSundiata. (3 lectures)IV. Early Modern Africa. This section deals with the history of early modern Africa and itsengagement with the larger world. We will explore in-depth how world religions and the transoceanic and inland trade networks and allied economic activities and political institutions havedeveloped, changed and affected African societies from circa 1000 to 1850. The last part of thissection of the course then takes up the commercial and religious revolutions of the 19th centuryand the encounter between Europeans and Africans in southern Africa and the accompanyingsignificant social and political reordering across Africa. (9 lectures)Course goals encourage the development of critical thinking and of writing skills. introduce students to basic concepts in the study of south African history provide them with a basic historical outline of African history to 1850 developed a basic understanding of the historical forces–both external and internal–that contributed to the diversity of Africa’s cultural, political and social terrains as1
well as the common historical experiences and roots that tie together African peoplesand societies.Course Requirements and EvaluationGrading in the course will be based on an evaluation of student performance in the term paper,class attendance, participation in discussion, midterm and final exams. Points will be available asfollows:Final Exam:Midterm Exam:Term paperParticipation in discussion:30%25%20%20%Class Attendance5%Grading ScaleIn the final determination of the letter grades, I will use “ ” and “-”. Grading for the course willbe as follows:A grades (90-100);B grades (80-89);C grades (70-79);D grades (60-69); andF grade (below 60).EVALUATION DETAILSAttendance (5%)ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED –and rewarded, since active engagement in class will contributesignificantly to your final grade. I will take attendance every week. One unexcused absence isacceptable. If you miss class more than once for reasons such as illness and family emergency,you need to produce a document explaining your absence. You will lose 1% of your attendanceand participatio man Diallo, “Recalls his capture and rute/2.htmA. Falconbridge, “The treatment of newly arrived slaves in the West /9.htmPope Paul III: Sublimus Dei [On Slavery], 1537http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs pa03sd.htmPope Leo XIII: Catholicae Ecclesiae (On Slavery in The Missions), clicals/documents/hf l-xiii enc 20111890 catholicae-ecclesiae.htmlWeek 11 (T/R, November 15/17): Impact of the Atlantic and Asian Slave Trade“Survivals” and “Transformations”; Economic and Political Impact; Africans in the newWorld; The Atlantic Slave Trade in Memory and TraditionVideo: Slave KingdomsReadings:Collins, Documents from the African Past, 44-63, 84-88, 107-109Collins and Burns, A History of Sub-Saharan Africa, 202-212, 228-247, 310-311.Week 12 (T/R, November 22/24): Mercantile and Industrial Capitalism and Africa (c. 1652 –1850 CE)From Slaves to Oilseeds in West Africa; the Industrial Revolution and Africa;Development and UnderdevelopmentReadings:Collins, Documents from the African Past, 228-233.Collins and Burns, A History of Sub-Saharan Africa,251-264.November 24, Thanks Giving, no class.Week 13 (T/R, November 29/December 1): Political and Religious Revolutions in West AfricaThe Sudan and Sahel: Jihad and Mass Islam; legacies of the jihad.Reading:Collins, Documents from the African Past,166-169, 172-175, 188-201December 01, No class (attending conference)7
Week 14 (T/R, December 06/08): Settlers and Africans in Southern AfricaEncounter between Khoi-San and Europeans; European Expansion; The Conquest of theXhosa’ and The Zulu-British EncounterReading:Collins, Documents from the African Past, 96-107, 140-143, 183-188, 202-208, 216-228Collins and Burns, A History of Sub-Saharan Africa, 280-295.Week 15 (Tuesday, December 13): Slaves and Ivory and Omani domination in the Swahili;Review session, evaluation and valedictionReading:Collins, Documents from the African Past, 248-252Collins and Burns, A History of Sub-Saharan Africa, .Thursday, November 26, Thanks GivingFinal Exam TBA.8
successors and the Empire of Aksum. (2 lectures) III. Medieval African Civilizations. This section covers medieval African societies and kingdoms including the succession of empires which flourished in the middle sections of the Niger River in West Africa, the forests states in west Africa and the states of southern and central Africa.
